Saturday, December 8, 2007

Kotaro OtsukaHometown: KanagawaNumber of Times Playing on the Pro Tour: 12How many Worlds have you played in?4How did you qualify for 2007 Worlds? Pro pointsNumber of GP/PT Top 8s:GP 4 / PT 0Other Previous Magic accomplishments:2003 Japanese National Champion

Standard Record: 4-1What Standard deck did you play and why did you play it?U/B Mannequin because it always won on Magic Online

Legacy Record: 3-2What Legacy deck did you play and why did you play it?2 Land Belcher, because it's easy to play!

How did you prepare for the event? Who did you prepare with?Practiced on Magic Online and with many friends who live in Kobuchi

Patrick ChapinHometown: Detroit, Michigan USANumber of Times Playing on the Pro Tour: Oodles How many Worlds have you played in?SeveralHow did you qualify for 2007 Worlds? RatingNumber of GP/PT Top 8s:3 PT Top 8s, 1 GP FinalsOther Previous Magic accomplishments:Former Vintage champion, two-time state champion, regional champion

Standard Record: 4-1What Standard deck did you play and why did you play it?Dragonstorm. It is very strong and I didn't think most people would be prepared for combo.

Booster Draft Record: 5-1What was your draft strategy? I didn't try to force anything this time and my drafts worked out much better. I ended up R/G giants and B/G elves, so I am glad that I was willing to be flexible. Thank you Herberholz, Rich Hoaen and Gabe Walls for advice.

Legacy Record: 3-1-1What Legacy deck did you play and why did you play it?Four-color threshold with Counterbalance, Sensei's Divining Top, Dark Confidant and Thoughtseize. It is just so consistent and my build is well equipped for the mirror.

How did you prepare for the event? Who did you prepare with?I mostly worked with Mark Herberholz and Gabriel Nassif, as well as Paul Nizolo, Josh Wludyka and DJ Katsner.

Uri PelegHometown: Mevasseret, IsraelNumber of Times Playing on the Pro Tour: 8How many Worlds have you played in?5How did you qualify for 2007 Worlds? National TeamNumber of GP/PT Top 8s:0Other Previous Magic accomplishments:31st PT Philadelphia, 37th Worlds 2000

Standard Record: 4-1What Standard deck did you play and why did you play it?BGw agro splashing white for Doran the fat Siege Tower. ("He who shelters the wild")

Booster Draft Record: 5-1What was your draft strategy? One draft I got lucky, and the other I opened Profane Command and Dread.

Legacy Record: 3-1-1What Legacy deck did you play and why did you play it?Landstill designed by Gabriel Nassif, because Antonino De Rosa were nice enough to give me a list (thank you!!!)

How did you prepare for the event? Who did you prepare with?Playtested some standard with Eviatar Olpiner, Elisha Amiv and Orr Bilduer (from my nats top 8). Also tested Legacy with them but when I got Nassif's list I switched.

Katsuhiro MoriHometown: Osaka, JapanNumber of Times Playing on the Pro Tour: (not listed)How many Worlds have you played in?5How did you qualify for 2007 Worlds? Level 4 ProNumber of GP/PT Top 8s:GP: 12, PT: 3Other Previous Magic accomplishments:A lot

Standard Record: 5-0What Standard deck did you play and why did you play it?I like black Command.

Legacy Record: 4-1What Legacy deck did you play and why did you play it?3cBlack designed by Saito Tomoharu

How did you prepare for the event? Who did you prepare with?Magic: Online and with Osawa Takuya, Masahiko Morita, and Kenji Tsumura

Yoshitaka NakanoHometown: Osaka, JapanNumber of Times Playing on the Pro Tour: 4How many Worlds have you played in?2How did you qualify for 2007 Worlds? RatingNumber of GP/PT Top 8s:1Other Previous Magic accomplishments:(none listed)

Standard Record: 5-0What Standard deck did you play and why did you play it?BG Elves

Legacy Record: 2-1-2What Legacy deck did you play and why did you play it?Charbelcher

How did you prepare for the event? Who did you prepare with?Masahiko Morita, Tsuyoshi Fujita, Kenji Tsumura, Takuya Osawa, and more.

Gabriel NassifHometown: Paris, FranceNumber of Times Playing on the Pro Tour: (not listed)How many Worlds have you played in?6-7How did you qualify for 2007 Worlds? Level 4Number of GP/PT Top 8s:Grand Prix: 3, Pro Tour: 8Other Previous Magic accomplishments:2004 Player of the Year

Standard Record: 4-1What Standard deck did you play and why did you play it?Dragonstorm because I thought it was the best deck by far.

Booster Draft Record: 5-1What was your draft strategy?Pick the best card in the first pack and go from there. Try to avoid Kithkin.

Legacy Record: 3-0-2What Legacy deck did you play and why did you play it?Landstill because I thought it had a good/ok matchup against Gro, Goblins, and Breakfast and an overall solid deck that had made its proofs.

How did you prepare for the event? Who did you prepare with?Going to East Lansing, Michigan to hang out with Herberheezy, go out drinking, learning Kingpin punch lines and mising decklists from random GP side events.

Roel van HeeswijkHometown: Utrecht, NetherlandsNumber of Times Playing on the Pro Tour: 14How many Worlds have you played in?3How did you qualify for 2007 Worlds? Level 3Number of GP/PT Top 8s:0/2Other Previous Magic accomplishments:Dutch Masters 2006

Standard Record: 4-1What Standard deck did you play and why did you play it?GB without the Elves, by Rogier Maaten and me.

Legacy Record: 4-0-1What Legacy deck did you play and why did you play it?PT Junk

How did you prepare for the event? Who did you prepare with?Draft a lot for manamaze.com and played Grand Prix-Krakow for Standard. Got a good deck from Wessel Oomens for Legacy.

Christoph HuberHometown: Aaran, SwitzerlandNumber of Times Playing on the Pro Tour: 8How many Worlds have you played in?2How did you qualify for 2007 Worlds? National teamNumber of GP/PT Top 8s:0/1Standard Record: 5-0What Standard deck did you play and why did you play it?GB Midrange. Nico Bohny tested Standard and told me it's good, he gave me the list.